#h5n1

[mail-me-to-hell]

As we head into multiple viral outbreaks including potentially H5N1, I am begging people to think carefully about how they talk about these viruses. It has been exhausting since the start of COVID hearing people talk about "only people with pre existing conditions" as if that makes everything okay. I am worth something, we are worth something, our lives matter.

[heckyeahponyscans]

The H5N1 (bird flu) virus is going around, and cats are proving especially susceptible to it. A big cat sanctuary in Washington state had TWENTY of their big cats (cougars, tigers, etc) die of bird flu.

There have also been cases of indoor-only domestic cats getting sick or even dying of bird flu after contracting it from raw cat food. And of course coming into contact with birds also puts your cat at risk.

To keep your cat safe:

Keep them away from birds, preferably keeping them entirely inside. If they are indoor-outdoor then remove any bird feeders from your yard to make cat-bird contact less likely.

Do NOT feed them raw food of any sort, including freeze-dried raw food. Freezing will not kill the virus!

A lot of raw pet food companies are using PR speak to assure customers that their raw food is safe. Remember that at the end of the day their priority is to make money and stay in business. Unless they are testing every bird carcass for the virus their assurances are meaningless, and they certainly are not testing every bird because it would be too expensive.

Cooking kills most viruses and bacteria, including H5N1.

[glacecakes]

Hey soooo like. If you let your cats go outdoors first of all why. But second of all you should really stop that since bird flu is extremely fatal in cats and your cats can get it just from contact with wild birds

[halorvic]

🙏🙏

Stop being like Mesny guys come on

[reasonsforhope]

Record Number of 736,000 Sandhill Cranes Flock to Nebraska in Spring Migration–with No Bird Flu

Arrivals and departures are staggered over several weeks, but at peak stopover, it's one of the great sights of natural America.

"Fears that Nebraska’s annual spring migration of sandhill cranes could be the avian equivalent of a “superspreader” event have been completely abated, as a record-setting stopover in Nebraska of thousands of birds was enjoyed without any sign of a bird flu outbreak.

Three-quarters of a million cranes migrating north to their spring habitat landed in the Platte River in Nebraska. The number is deemed an underestimation, but you try counting more than 700,000 birds.

Fears that the highly contagious new strain of bird flu H5N1 could carry over to the cranes from livestock have been assuaged as the birds are beginning to move off again without a single dead crane being observed, local news reports.

Aside from the mini celebration of bird flu’s absence, the real celebration—that this year was the largest on-record for the sandhill crane migration—can begin.

The official estimate of 738,000 animals was made during aerial surveys by the Crane Trust, a nonprofit whose raison d’etre is to protect these magnificent birds and this unforgettable spectacle.

Pictured: Crane migration in Nebraska

These cranes have been visiting an 80-mile-long stretch of the Platte River, braided in some sections, for 9 million years, which these days lies between the towns of Chapman and Overton, Nebraska.

“What makes the central Platte River valley attractive to sandhill cranes is the river that we help manage,” says Matt Urbanski, a spokesman for the Crane Trust, to KSNB’s Madison Smith. “We will make sure that there’s not a ton of vegetation choking the river out. We’ll make sure that it can widen, so the sandhill cranes have six to eight inches of water to sit in during the nighttime.”

The sandhill crane stands between 3 and 4 feet tall, and is easily identifiable for its crown of red feathers and their rattling bugle-like call. It is one of only 2 species of crane that live in North America...

Interestingly, though the cranes have visited this site for eons, they did so even before there was a river there. Additionally, they now spend much of their time feeding on spare corn kernels leftover from nearby harvests, and spend the night standing in the water where they’re safe from predators.

Arrivals and departures are staggered over several weeks, but at peak stopover, it’s one of the great sights of natural America.

“There is nothing else like it in the world,” says Marcos Stoltzfus, director of the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center at Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon, Nebraska, to News Channel Nebraska."

-via Good News Network, April 3, 2025

[todaysbird]

H5 bird flu is still prevalent in 2026. what do you need to know?

bird flu is found worldwide, however, recent outbreaks have been primarily in the United States. after H5N1 bird flu became a concern in 2022, little progress has been made in preventing unnecessary transmission & future deaths.

bird flu is primarily transmitted from wild birds to each other, or from wild birds to other animals. prevent transmission by taking down birdfeeders/baths/etc altogether in areas of high transmission (if you are in the USA, you can typically get this information from your state’s fish and game service). otherwise, clean feeders and artificial surfaces that wild birds use often. keep your cats indoors, and monitor dogs to make sure they do not interact with any deceased birds.

do not handle birds suspected to have bird flu. you can report deceased birds or other animals to your local wildlife services. they can provide further guidance on how to safely move deceased animals, but in most cases they will come collect them.

use caution when purchasing new poultry, visiting poultry shows, etc. quarantine any new birds. transmission among poultry happens incredibly quickly, causing entire flocks to be culled to prevent further spread - don’t let this happen to your birds </3

bird flu is transmissible to humans and other animals - despite its name, it is highly infectious and can spread among many other species. 71 people have reported bird flu infections, with one death. while there is little risk from enjoying everyday outdoor activities where wild birds are present, you can encourage good general hygiene and safety by washing your hands after handling outdoor materials, and/or by making your own footbath for when you head indoors.

bird flu is not being handled as a priority by government officials in the USA. if you live here (where transmission is highest!) do your best to monitor what’s going on in your state & what actions state officials are taking. use caution and protect yourself, your pets, and wildlife.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

​Cat dies after catching highly pathogenic avian flu in southeast Sask. | CBC News

Sask. vets were sent a memo asking for vigilance after a domestic cat died from contracting the "highly pathogenic avian influenza."

A domestic cat in southeastern Saskatchewan has died after contracting "highly pathogenic avian influenza," according to a news release from the provincial Ministry of Agriculture. The cat that contracted the illness seemed normal on the morning of April 20, but very quickly deteriorated — showing sudden neurological and respiratory signs. It died the same day.  Post-mortem testing from Prairie Diagnostic Services and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the presence of the H5N1 strain of the highly pathogenic avian flu, the news release says.

Read more.

Tagging: @newsfromstolenland

[covid-safer-hotties]

FDA lays off bird flu leadership, among steep cuts to senior veterinarians

More than 130 staff were cut from the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, officials said.

Coming soon to a sky near you: 500 million birds

The massive annual spring migration of America's birds – millions of them – is underway. Here's how to follow along at home.